Puri: The Odisha government has decided to use extracted mineral from six Khondalite mining blocks and use it for development projects under Augmentation of Basic Amenities and Development of Heritage and Architecture (ABADHA) scheme in Puri.
As per the official order issued by the Steel and Mines Department, six Khondalite blocks including three in Jajpur, one in Cuttack & two in Khurda have been kept reserved for mining purpose in favour of Odisha Mining Corporation (OMC).
Mineral extracted from these blocks will be supplied to the Works Department or any other agency designated by it for use in the projects to be undertaken under ABADHA, informed sources.
Any mineral not required by the Works Department or any other agency designated by it or the Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) shall be disposed by the OMC following due process of law, the official order reads.
The six Khondalite blocks reserved by the Odisha government are—Chandia, Sukhuaparha, Teligarh in Jajpur, Gobindapur in Cuttack, Kurumpada Decorative Stone Block and Kundakundi Kunda Stone Quarry, Narangarh in Khurda.
The reservation of Kundakundi Kunda Stone Quarry is however conditional upon withdrawal of the ML application by the SJTA in favour of the OMC Ltd.